Based on British author Diana Wynne Jones’ 1986 childrens’ fantasy novel and adapted by legendary Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, Howl’s Moving Castle is one of the most financially successful Japanese films of all-time (with worldwide receipts of $235m) and was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 2006 Academy Awards.

It tells the story of teenager Sophie, who is turned into an old woman by the evil Witch of the Waste and finds refuge as a cleaner in the castle of a young wizard, Howl, who is reluctantly preparing for war with the neighbouring realm at the behest of the King. On board Howl’s castle Sophie befriends Calcifer, a fire demon bound by a contract to the young wizard, and Howl’s apprentice Markl, and together they set about to lift the Witch’s curse and bring peace to the kingdom.

The English dub presented here was overseen by Pixar’s Pete Doctor (director of Monsters, Inc. and Up), and received a theatrical release in North America courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures.

For more on the works of Hayao Miyazaki, be sure to check out Trevor Hogg’s comprehensive five part profile Drawn to Anime.